Explore Tamil Nadu
DAY -01 - ARRIVE Chennai
Arrive Chennai international airport
Metting and assitance at the airport
Transfer by car to your hotel
Arrive Chennai international airport
Meeting and assistance at the airport
Transfer by car to your hotel
Check in at the hotel
Time to relax after your international flight
At around 1400 hrs set out to explore the city of Chennai
Visit Government Bronze museum (closed on Fridays) where you can see some very interesting and rare bronze statue collections and some very rare and interesting sculptures at the Amaravathi Gallery .
Drive along the old part of Chennai
Walk through George Town and explore how British developed this once small fishing Hamlet to become the first modern city of India
Drive to Fort St. George. Walk through the fort and visit St. Mary's church - the first Anglican Church in India
Driver through Marina beach and on the other side you will find excellent colonial building built on Indo sacranic style and learn the history of why all colonial building in India are built on this style of architecture
Visit St. Thomas Cathedral
Walk along the market near Kapaleeshwara temple
Return to your hotel in Chennai
It would be a great option to have dinner at Rain tree restaurant at the Taj Connemara hotel to give you the introduction to South Indian cuisine
Overnight at the hotel in Chennai
DAY 02 - CHENNAI / KANCHEEPURAM / MAHABALIPURAM
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning - leave early at around 0730 hrs to Kancheepuram
The early start is planned to facilitate you on skipping the morning traffic
After two hours drive on the express high way, you will arrive at Kancheepuram
Visit Varadaraja Perumal temple and Ekambareshwar temple
You will then visit a silk weaving shop - The silk of Kancheepuram are said to be the heaviest silk and the most expensive. This silk is used for weaving sarees
Suggest this day lunch at a very famous authentic South India vegetarian restaurant serving South India thali
Visit Kailasanathar temple
Drive towards Mahabalipuram
During the end of the day visit Tiruparankundram - just before Mahabalipuram
You can climb up the hill to have a view of the sunset and the villages below
Arrive Mahabalipuram and check in at the hotel
You have an option of having the dinner at your hotel in Mahabalipuram or walk through the main streets and have an sea food dinner at one of many small restaurants
Overnight at the hotel or the resort in Mahabalipuram
DAY 03 - MAHABALIPURAM
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Arjuna Penance - this monument is best visited in the morning when the sun is still on the east - the monument is east facing and hence it would be very pleasant if visited at around 0900 hrs
Visit Krishna butter ball and then climb behind the rock and walk along the rock to the light house. Climb down from the light house and visit Five Rathas
Return to the hotel - you can relax on the beach
In the evening visit Shore temple and then walk along the main market - you can see the sculptors at work
Dinner at the hotel or at the main street where there are many sea food restaurants
Overnight at the hotel or the resort in Mahabalipuram
DAY 04 - MAHABALIPURAM / PONDICHERRY
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning spend time at the hotel or walk along the main street in Mahabalipuram
Drive to Auroville
Lunch on arrival at one of the many restaurants
Later visit Matri mandir - You will not be able to get inside Matri Mandir into the meditation chambers but you can view a short programme on Matri Mandir and visit the dome from the garden.
Proceed to Pondicherry
Check in at the hotel
In the evening walk around the beach promenade
Overnight at the hotel in Pondicherry
DAY 05 - PONDICHERRY / CHIDAMBARAM / KUMBAKONAM
Breakfast at the hotel
Early morning departure to Chidambaram. Leave around 0730 hrs
Visit Natraja temple at Chidambaram. In this temple you can see the different dance poses of Siva and also paintings on the ceilings. It is an excellent temple
Later leave for Gangaikondacholapuram. You will visit the architecture of the temple from the lawns
Leave for Kumbakonam
Check in at the hotel and relax
In the evening you will visit Sarangapani temple , the market and the surroundings
Overnight at the hotel in Kumbakonam
DAY 06 - KUMBAKONAM / TANJORE
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Tanjore
On the way visit Darasuram - an excellent example of Dravidian style temple
Later visit Bronze statue making place in Swamimalai
Drive to Tanjore
On arrival check in at the hotel
You will start the tour of Tanjore with a visit to the Palace museum and then visit Brihadeeshwara temple during sunset
Overnight at the hotel in Tanjore
DAY 07 - TANJORE / CHETTINADU
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Brihadeeshwara temple, this time in detail to see the architectural marvel of this more than 1000 years old temple
Drive to Chettinadu
Chettinadu is sleepy little town with more that 1000 palatial house with more or less same architecture and some of the houses are detailed with ivory, Belgium glasses, teaks, rose wood and not to the forget the unique tile floorings only available in this region. As most of the houses are locked and guests are not permitted inside the house, we will visit two or three houses now turned to a hotel
First you will visit Chidambaram villa which is a hotel now but the house is a very grand house. You will have lunch at this place and then move on to Kanadukathan village where you will stay in another mansion turned into a hotel
In the evening you will explore this sleepy little village and also visit a village temple
Overnight at the hotel in Chettinadu
DAY 08 - CHETTINADU / RAMESHWARAM
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning proceed to Rameshwaram - approx 04 hours drive
Arrive Rameshwaram and check in at the hotel
In the afternoon explore the activities of the pilgrims - Rameshwaram is considered to be one of the most holiest places for Hindus - the other is Varanasi
Overnight at the hotel in Rameshwaram
DAY 09 - RAMESHWARAM / MADURAI
Early morning drive to Danshkodi by 4x4 jeep. The eastern tip of India and from where Srilanka is only 16 miles or so. Legends say that Lord Rama built a bridge from this point to Ceylon to retrieve his kidnapped wife. Some claim that there is a bridge underneath the sea even now
Return to Rameshwaram.
After breakfast checkout and proceed to Madurai
Arrive Madurai and check in at the hotel
Rest of the evening free
Overnight at the hotel in Madurai
DAY 10 - MADURAI / CHENNAI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Meenakshi Amman temple and Palace of Tirumalai Nayak
After breakfast checkout and proceed to Madurai
Transfer to Madurai airport in time to connect your flight to Chennai for final departure.